"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks"
-Thomas Jefferson-

Now two flags fly above my land that really sum up how I feel. One is the colors that fly high and proud the red, the white, the blue. The other ones got a rattle snake with a simple statement made, don't tread on me, is what it says and I'll take that to my grave
-Aaron Lewis-

Illinois is trying to control our Second Amendment right, and that's not right at all. Our 4 father's who fought for our right's are probably rolling over in their grave's right now in disappointment. I am a proud firearm owner, and if it come's down to protecting my family i will do it in away way i can. Illinois need's to come to there sense's and realize what they are doing is a mistake and will regret it big time.

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation announced this morning that it has filed an amended complaint in federal district court in Illinois, challenging the state’s statutory prohibitions on the carrying of handguns for personal protection.

Joining SAF in this amended complaint are Illinois Carry, a volunteer organization founded to educate the public about Illinois gun laws, and two more private citizens, Peggy Fechter of Carmi, and Jon Maier, a resident of Bloomington. Michael Moore of Champaign and Charles Hooks of Percy remain active plaintiffs.

Defendants in the lawsuit are Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and State Police Superintendent Hiram Grau. SAF is represented by attorneys David Jensen of New York and David Sigale of Glen Ellyn. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield.

The lawsuit alleges that Illinois statutes that completely ban the carrying of handguns for self-defense deprive the plaintiffs of civil rights under color of law, making them “inconsistent with the Second Amendment.”

SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb welcomed the additional plaintiffs, noting, “After the lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, we were overwhelmed by requests to participate. We want to assure everyone who contacted us that they do not need to be actual plaintiffs in order to benefit from a victory.

“SAF truly appreciates the wave of enthusiasm and support from gun owners all over Illinois,” he continued. “But right now we need to move forward and if people would like to support our lawsuit with a tax-exempt contribution to SAF, we would welcome that. We simply cannot take on more plaintiffs at this point and further delay the process.”

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

Illinois Carry is honored to join the Second Amendment Foundationís (SAF) lawsuit
against the offices of the Illinois Attorney General and Director of Illinois State Police.
Illinois Carry has always maintained that to restore and maintain our Second Amendment
rights efforts must include advancing the cause through legislative, electoral, and judicial means.
Illinois Carry is pleased to join in the judicial process.

Illinois Carry welcomes the SAF lawsuit along with another suit filed by the National Rifle
Association and the Illinois State Rifle Association on behalf of Mary Shepard, a concealed carry license holder who
was the victim of a violent assault.

Our hope is that together these cases will send a strong message to elected officials in Springfield,
Cook Co. and Chicago that if they refuse to restore our rights through the legislative process,
we will petition the courts for those rights.

Our thanks to Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation and Todd Vandermyde of the
National Rifle Association for their tireless efforts to restore the Second Amendment to
the good people of Illinois.

"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." --Samuel Adams

Illinois Carry is honored to join the Second Amendment Foundationís (SAF) lawsuitagainst the offices of the Illinois Attorney General and Director of Illinois State Police. Illinois Carry has always maintained that to restore and maintain our Second Amendment rights efforts must include advancing the cause through legislative, electoral, and judicial means. Illinois Carry is pleased to join in the judicial process.

Illinois Carry welcomes the SAF lawsuit along with another suit filed by the National RifleAssociation and the Illinois State Rifle Association on behalf of Mary Shepard, a concealed carry license holder who was the victim of a violent assault.

Our hope is that together these cases will send a strong message to elected officials in Springfield, Cook Co. and Chicago that if they refuse to restore our rights through the legislative process, we will petition the courts for those rights.

Our thanks to Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation and Todd Vandermyde of theNational Rifle Association for their tireless efforts to restore the Second Amendment tothe good people of Illinois.

It is awesome to see organizations like this come together to try to overcome the injustice, of refusing to acknowledge the second amendment rights of the people of Illinois. My thanks in advance.

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence ... From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that is good" (George Washington)

Todd, Do we really believe that any other judge in any other county in Illinois will decide in our favor? And that Madigan etal will not appeal? This must get out of state and to SCOTUS to have any chance of being decided in our favor. Cook, Champaign, Pope or Pike, no big deal, it is a federal issue and the inclusion or exclusion of a resident of any county is so much posturing and pretension. The facts are important, the players not so much. Lets plan for the long haul!

quote]When I joined, I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution. I've never been relieved of that oath.[[/quote]

Todd, Do we really believe that any other judge in any other county in Illinois will decide in our favor? And that Madigan etal will not appeal? This must get out of state and to SCOTUS to have any chance of being decided in our favor. Cook, Champaign, Pope or Pike, no big deal, it is a federal issue and the inclusion or exclusion of a resident of any county is so much posturing and pretension. The facts are important, the players not so much. Lets plan for the long haul!

I can't claim to speak for Todd, but this is in Federal Court. The judges in the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois are probably a little more friendly to our cause than the federal judges in the Northern District of Illinois. The real challenge is the 7th Circuit Court, who decided McDonald v Chicago wrongly forcing the appeal to SCOTUS.

Todd, Do we really believe that any other judge in any other county in Illinois will decide in our favor? And that Madigan etal will not appeal? This must get out of state and to SCOTUS to have any chance of being decided in our favor. Cook, Champaign, Pope or Pike, no big deal, it is a federal issue and the inclusion or exclusion of a resident of any county is so much posturing and pretension. The facts are important, the players not so much. Lets plan for the long haul!

I can't claim to speak for Todd, but this is in Federal Court. The judges in the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois are probably a little more friendly to our cause than the federal judges in the Northern District of Illinois. The real challenge is the 7th Circuit Court, who decided McDonald v Chicago wrongly forcing the appeal to SCOTUS.

When you say "friendly to our cause" I believe you are saying they are more understanding of the Constitution, right?

Todd, Do we really believe that any other judge in any other county in Illinois will decide in our favor? And that Madigan etal will not appeal? This must get out of state and to SCOTUS to have any chance of being decided in our favor. Cook, Champaign, Pope or Pike, no big deal, it is a federal issue and the inclusion or exclusion of a resident of any county is so much posturing and pretension. The facts are important, the players not so much. Lets plan for the long haul!

I can't claim to speak for Todd, but this is in Federal Court. The judges in the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois are probably a little more friendly to our cause than the federal judges in the Northern District of Illinois. The real challenge is the 7th Circuit Court, who decided McDonald v Chicago wrongly forcing the appeal to SCOTUS.

When you say "friendly to our cause" I believe you are saying they are more understanding of the Constitution, right?

Judges are suppose to follow the Constitution and the law. But they bring their beliefs with them to the bench. You can believe the 2A is an individual right, or believe it is a collective right and find the documents to support your position. Get a judge that is a bit more conservative and already believes like we do, they are more apt to be from the southern part of the state

While a 9 mm or .40 caliber bullet may or may not expand, it is an undeniable fact that a .45 caliber bullet will never shrink.

Judges a suppose to fopllow the Consitution and the law. But they bring their beliefs with them to the bench. You can believe the 2Ais an individual right, or believe it is a collective right and find the documents to support your position. Get a judge that is a bit more conservitive and already believes like we do, they are more apt to be from the southern part of the state

Capitalizing on its federal appeals court victory Wednesday in Ezell v. City of Chicago, the Second Amendment Foundation today moved for a preliminary injunction against the State of Illinois to prevent further enforcement of that state’s prohibitions on firearms carry in public by law-abiding citizens.

The motion was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield. Joining SAF in this motion are Illinois Carry and four private citizens, Michael Moore, Charles Hooks, Peggy Fechter and Jon Maier. The underlying case is known as Moore v. Madigan.

Illinois is the only state in the nation with such prohibitions. The state neither allows open carry or concealed carry, which runs afoul of recent U.S. Supreme Court Second Amendment rulings, including last year’s landmark ruling in McDonald v. City of Chicago, another SAF case. SAF was represented in McDonald and Ezell by attorney Alan Gura, who noted after yesterday’s appeals court win – forcing a temporary injunction against the city’s ban on gun ranges that the city immediately changed after the decision was announced – that “Even Chicago politicians must respect the people’s fundamental civil rights…Gun rights are coming to Chicago. The only question is how much the city’s intransigence will cost taxpayers along the way.”

“Now that the Seventh Circuit has recognized that the deprivation of the right of armed self-defense is an inherently irreparable injury, it is clear that Illinois’ law-abiding gun owners are entitled to a protective injunction,” said attorney David Jensen of New York, who, along with Glen Ellyn, IL attorney David Sigale, is representing SAF and the other plaintiffs.

“Yesterday’s win was a wake-up call to Chicago,” said SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb. “Today’s motion is a signal to the Illinois Legislature that the state’s total ban on carrying of firearms for personal protection is counter to both Supreme Court rulings on the Second Amendment, and yesterday’s ruling by the Seventh Circuit appeals panel that shredded Chicago’s gun ordinance. Our victory Wednesday and today’s motion are key components of SAF’s overall mission to win back firearms freedoms one lawsuit at a time.”

so do we think that they will call an emergency session to pass 148 Like they did to pass the gun range ordinace a day prior to that injunction? If they did pass it we could carry without any restrictions except those placed by federal law correct?

"A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but its persistence." - Jim Watkins